Today’s artist is Albrecht Durer. Albrecht Durer was born in Nuremberg, Holy Roman
Empire in what is today Germany on May 21, 1471. Albrecht was a painter, printmaker
and all around Renaissance guy. He had already gotten a reputation as an influential
printmaker while in his early twenties due to his amazing woodcuts. He was friend with other
artist of the time such as Leonardo daVinci, Raphael and Giovannni Bellini. By 1512,
Emperor Maxmillian I (of the Holy Roman Empire) had become his patron. A patron is
“a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum,
cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts” according to
Dictionary.com. You know how ‘influencers’ on youtube or instagram are always inviting
folks to join their ‘Patreon’? It’s kind of the same thing. It’s a way for artists to make money
by doing what they love. It’s kind of a big deal now and it was definitely a big deal back in
Albrecht’s time. Emperor Maxmillian was a very rich, influential man.
Empire in what is today Germany on May 21, 1471. Albrecht was a painter, printmaker
and all around Renaissance guy. He had already gotten a reputation as an influential
printmaker while in his early twenties due to his amazing woodcuts. He was friend with other
artist of the time such as Leonardo daVinci, Raphael and Giovannni Bellini. By 1512,
Emperor Maxmillian I (of the Holy Roman Empire) had become his patron. A patron is
“a person who supports with money, gifts, efforts, or endorsement an artist, writer, museum,
cause, charity, institution, special event, or the like: a patron of the arts” according to
Dictionary.com. You know how ‘influencers’ on youtube or instagram are always inviting
folks to join their ‘Patreon’? It’s kind of the same thing. It’s a way for artists to make money
by doing what they love. It’s kind of a big deal now and it was definitely a big deal back in
Albrecht’s time. Emperor Maxmillian was a very rich, influential man.
Albrecht’s father was a very successful goldsmith who moved to Nuremberg from Hungary.
Albrecht was one of fourteen (possibly 18) children. Albrecht studied goldsmithing and
drawing from his father, so he was ‘homeschooled’ kind of like y’all are being right now.
After a few years, at the age of 15, he became an apprentice to a German printmaker and
painter. When he was about 18, he graduated from being an apprentice and left home to
start studying under different artists so that he could polish his skills and learn from them.
After about four years of traveling about he made his way to Italy. He went to Venice, which
you might notice has been in the news recently. Venice is a city built on canals and is known
as ‘The city of Water’. After about a year, he returned to Nuremberg and opened his own
shop. Because of his travels, his style became greatly influenced by the Italian artists and he
created some of his best and most famous works of art. He stayed in Nuremberg for about
10 years and created such works as St. Jerome in the Wilderness, a small painting that
interestingly shows a comet or meteor in the sky behind the central figure, which was
something that was recorded as happening on November 7, 1492. He also painted portraits
of everyday people, including his father at 70.
Albrecht was one of fourteen (possibly 18) children. Albrecht studied goldsmithing and
drawing from his father, so he was ‘homeschooled’ kind of like y’all are being right now.
After a few years, at the age of 15, he became an apprentice to a German printmaker and
painter. When he was about 18, he graduated from being an apprentice and left home to
start studying under different artists so that he could polish his skills and learn from them.
After about four years of traveling about he made his way to Italy. He went to Venice, which
you might notice has been in the news recently. Venice is a city built on canals and is known
as ‘The city of Water’. After about a year, he returned to Nuremberg and opened his own
shop. Because of his travels, his style became greatly influenced by the Italian artists and he
created some of his best and most famous works of art. He stayed in Nuremberg for about
10 years and created such works as St. Jerome in the Wilderness, a small painting that
interestingly shows a comet or meteor in the sky behind the central figure, which was
something that was recorded as happening on November 7, 1492. He also painted portraits
of everyday people, including his father at 70.
In 1505, he returned to Italy for two years. Here the most important work he created was
Feast of the Rose Garlands. In 1507 he traveled back to Nuremberg and there he stayed
until 1520. Some of the most famous works from this time were his woodcut studies of the
human body, portraits of the Emperors Charlemagne and Sigismund, and the Madonna of the
Carnation.
Feast of the Rose Garlands. In 1507 he traveled back to Nuremberg and there he stayed
until 1520. Some of the most famous works from this time were his woodcut studies of the
human body, portraits of the Emperors Charlemagne and Sigismund, and the Madonna of the
Carnation.
In 1521, he traveled to the Netherlands where he stayed for a year, then returned home to
Nuremberg where he lived the remainder of his life. Durer remains one of the most influential
artists of his time. He left behind 4 books about the study of human proportion, and was
possibly one of the first artists to paint self portraits and was one of the most influential artists
of the Northern Renaissance. He is known to some as ‘The Leonardo of the North’.
Durer died very suddenly on April 6, 1528 at the age of 56. It’s possible that he caught malaria when he visited the Netherlands.
Nuremberg where he lived the remainder of his life. Durer remains one of the most influential
artists of his time. He left behind 4 books about the study of human proportion, and was
possibly one of the first artists to paint self portraits and was one of the most influential artists
of the Northern Renaissance. He is known to some as ‘The Leonardo of the North’.
Durer died very suddenly on April 6, 1528 at the age of 56. It’s possible that he caught malaria when he visited the Netherlands.
This sketch is of Katharina, who was a servant of one of the agents of the King of Portugal.
I think that the look on Katharina’s face says it all. She kind of over it. I feel you Katharina,
feel you.
I think that the look on Katharina’s face says it all. She kind of over it. I feel you Katharina,
feel you.
To learn more about Albrecht Durer you can visit here: Khan Academy
and
To see more of his work, visit:Artsy.Net
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